Sports

Student-Athletes Thriving in 'Culture of Academic Success'

For the eighth consecutive year, Academic Progress Rate (APR) numbers have improved for UCF. The Knights’ department-wide four-year average is up one point to 976, which is two points above the national average of 974. A perfect APR score is 1000.

Tuesday’s release includes data through the 2011-12 academic year. The APR provides a “snapshot” look at a team’s academic success on a yearly basis. The APR score takes into account graduation, retention and eligibility to determine a clear picture of the current academic culture of a program.

The NCAA uses the multi-year average to track a program’s overall academic progress. The multi-year rate takes the previous four reports into account. The NCAA began compiling this data in 2004.

“We’re proud of our student-athletes and their hard work, coupled with the commitment displayed by our coaches and academic support staff,” UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury said. “This is yet another example that shows the culture of academic success that we promote here at UCF.”

In addition to the overall department increase, nine of UCF’s 16 sport programs saw their multi-year APR improve or remain at the same level as the previous year. Head coach George O’Leary’s UCF football program continues to post strong numbers. The football squad’s multi-year average improved to 975, which is 26 above the national average.

Ten of UCF’s 16 programs had multi-year APR averages that were above the national average for their respective sports – football, baseball, men’s golf, men’s soccer, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s tennis, women’s indoor track and field, women’s outdoor track and field and volleyball. Terry Rooney’s UCF baseball team turned in a 981 APR, which is 16 points better than the national average. Joi Williams’ women’s basketball team recorded a 972, which is four points above the national average.

This information comes on the heels of last week’s NCAA Public Recognition Awards for the Knights’ women’s tennis and volleyball programs. Stephanie Nickitas’ tennis squad and Todd Dagenais’ volleyball teams each posted perfect multi-year rates of 1000. The NCAA hands out Public Recognition Awards to programs with multi-year APR rates in the top 10 percent of the nation, compared to other teams in that sport. It was the second consecutive year of public recognition for UCF women’s tennis.

“Our young people have done a great job balancing all of the responsibilities of a student-athlete for many years now,” Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services Kimya Massey said. “Our coaches recruit high-quality student-athletes who have the will and the drive to do well in the classroom as well as in competition. The academic support staff works very hard to help our students develop to their full potential academically.”

None of UCF’s teams fell below the multi-year threshold where teams could be penalized by the NCAA. This is the sixth-straight year the Knights have seen each of their teams come in above the threshold.